No more 'hush, hush'

A message to Middlesex University's Students' Union to change their elections process and to move towards more transparent procedures.

News piece on this topic can be found on the cover of this issue and continued page 10.

Unfortunately, in comparison to past years, what Ed Marsh said at the beginning of the results night could be considered true. After all, it is not the first time that there have been very politician-like, dirty tricks used to win a position of presidency in the SU.

But, even if the specific allegations, which will be mentioned throughout this article, made about this year’s elections process are true, it has still been relatively tame and attracted a lot less attention than previous years.

Regardless of the result of their investigations, that these complaints are even being made by candidates who once wanted to work for the Students’ Union speaks volumes. Even if they cannot be proven, they can negatively affect both the students at this university and Middlesex University itself.

It could reduce the number of talented people, that could actually make a difference, from wanting to run for a position that gives them the power to do so. The controversy and negative image of the elections process that appears in light of these claims, even if they turn out not to be true, not only effects the Students’ Union itself, and the image that they portray, but also effects the candidates that do have the courage to run for presidency, by shaking their confidence and making the campaign process seem more ruthless and terrifying.

It also makes us as a university loose face. I mean, who would want to come to a university where the student union has so many rumours about cheating during their elections? How would that make our lives as students better?

It also defeats the purpose of the enjoyment of elections. The elections are supposed to be friendly competition that you’re meant to enjoy, and you are running because you believe in something, not because you want to defeat other people.

By running for these presidency positions and using these unfair methods to garner votes, these people cannot be considered suitable to be the representatives of the students. Being able to run for a position you think will help you make the lives of your fellow students better is an amazing opportunity, but these negative actions make others forget that fact.

It’s difficult to say exactly what these ‘negative’ actions were. The Students’ Union has strict policies regarding confidentiality, as it should, and so the facts behind the complaints and allegations are unclear. However, according to Reygan Davidson, 21, a candidate for the President position, and Derek Lamb, 21, a candidate for Vice President of Business and Law, some of the ‘negative’ actions included campaigning in slates and threatening other campaign teams.

What should be done to prevent this negative behaviour in the future?

First off, the student union need to be less focused on saving face by keeping complaints and any controversy “hush hush”, and instead invest more time in operating in a more transparent way, revealing details of allegations and how these are responded to. This will limit the rumours and allegations that are spread around by word of mouth.

Furthermore, the Students’ Union may even benefit from a change of policy surrounding the elections, with an increased focus in policing candidates.

A lot of students wouldn’t have even been aware of the scandalous actions certain people have taken in order to win a position of power. This factor also allowed those people to get away with those actions since, in their ignorance, the students might have voted for the people that squashed the voices of other candidates.

This article in particular may not be appreciated by many, but I am taking that first step in preventing the lack of transparency that the SU have had over the past few years in regards to the elections. By providing knowledge to the students that vote, we can reduce the amount of people that are affected unfairly and really give equality to all.